Effectiveness of a psychosocial counselling intervention for first-time IVF couples: a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to evaluate a psychosocial counselling intervention for first-time IVF couples. In this article the results on women's distress are presented. METHODS: Two hundred sixty-five couples admitted to an IVF treatment programme at the Erasmus MC were asked to participate in this study. Eighty-four couples agreed and were randomized according to a computer-generated random-numbers table into either a routine-care control group or an intervention group. The intervention consisted of three sessions with a social worker trained in Experiential Psychosocial Therapy: one before, one during and one after the first IVF cycle. Distress was measured daily during treatment by the Daily Record Keeping Chart. Depression and anxiety were measured before and after treatment by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. RESULTS: No significant group differences were found. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study do not support the implementation of our counselling intervention for all first-time IVF couples. The low response rate suggests that there is little perceived need for psychosocial counselling among couples during a first IVF treatment cycle.